Deaths elsewhere

Steffi Sidney-Splaver, who as a young actress appeared in "Rebel Without a Cause," then gave up acting to become a Hollywood writer, publicist and producer, has died. She was 74.

Sidney-Splaver died Monday of kidney failure at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, said her husband, Rick Splaver.

Her first movie role was in "The Eddie Cantor Story," in 1953. Two years later the dark-haired actress landed the role of Mil in "Rebel Without a Cause." Billed as Steffi Sidney, she played one of the girls in the gang of teenagers tormenting Jim Stark, played by James Dean.

A few more movies followed, including "Hold Back Tomorrow" (1955) and "The Hot Angel" (1958). She then left acting to write for teen magazines. She retired in 2003.